Thursday, September 11, 2008

Chilly?

I leave for Boston early tomorrow morning so that I can, if all goes as planned, speak in the evening to the new Common Cod Fiber Guild at the MIT Stata Center at 7 pm. If you're in the vicinity of Cambridge, do drop in. Guido, who is in charge of the whole megillah, said I could talk about whatever I want, so I've decided to talk about history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic.

No. I'm kidding. But wouldn't that be hysterical?

If you haven't seen it yet, the new Knitty is up and I made something for it. Amy Singer asked if I wanted to write a column and she said it could be about whatever I want, so it's about the history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic.

Omigod, that's even funnier the second time, isn't it?

No, seriously, I have this new column in Knitty. It's about working with patterns from historic sources, which means those super-ancient knitting books that look like the typesetters just picked up the case of letters and threw it at the page, then tossed in an extra sprinkling of semicolons. I love those, with the half-sick love only a born masochist can muster. (I even put an essay about it in the little book.)

Thing is, a lot of the patterns–once you get past the rampant errors and the unfamiliar language–yield quite lovely objects. This issue's column offers a men's nightcap pattern from 1840, with a fancy lace edging that could be extracted and used as the cast on edge of anything you think would be enhanced by a fancy lace edging.

I'm terribly surprised to find the pattern is already in a bunch of Ravelry queues. It makes me wonder if, in our era of higher energy costs, nightcaps are due for a revival.

Is there a new environmental campaign in this? Save the earth! Knit a nightcap!Maybe I could get this on the "Today" show. I quite fancy a tete-a-tete with Matt Lauer.

85 comments:

I used to use a nightcap when going through chemo - though that was in Vermont and it's a tad chillier than CA. I wasn't used to the amount of heat you lose through your head when it's not covered! Now that the hair's fully back my brain would probably melt.

It's a beautiful pattern - I don't plan on making the nightcap but that edging could be used on a shawl I'd wear when coming to listen to you discuss the history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic...

I can totally see one of these nightcaps in my sister-in-law's guest room. She's into the old English styling, and it fits perfectly. Not that I have time to knit stuff that isn't going to be worn (or even seen) often...

Well, since you're not going to give a talk about the history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic, and you didn't write a Knitty article about it, the least you could do is give us a blog post about it. Oh, wait, never mind... I'm probably one of only five people who would find that remotely interesting. But surely you could bring in wool somewhere in the discussion!

I've knit a few historic patterns for our Civil War reenactments and they are challenging to interpret, that's for sure. I love the night cap and think my husband would be smashing wearing it an event!

Heating, schmeating! Those nightcaps are a Dickensian fashion statement. Had a lovely old UK gent visit us in Dublin and he made his morning appearance in a striped-knee-length nightshirt seeking the first cup o' tea. Guess they still make 'em in the British Isles. Along with his mutton chop sideburns and beard he looked positively Victorian...or would that be Edwardian? Anyway, I'd say the only thing missing from that startling diorama was a knit nightcap. Wouldn't you agree?

Go ahead, give us your Hanseatic insights. While on the 2006 VK knitting tour I joined a walking tour of Bergen (Norway) with a local guide who gave us an amazing picture of life in that town during the Hanseatic era-- while looking at beautiful buildings from the period. Btw, I could have used a nightcap to keep warm while undergoing chemo. Instead I draped a flannel pillowcase over my head-- during a California summer to boot! I don't see how bald men survive without wearing hats at all times. Gretchen

One benefit of long hair is being warm on a cold night. That said, I've been cutting my hair shorter and shorter in an effort to get all the color out of my hair and grow in the real color, gray. I've been considering how cold I'll feel this winter but, I think you've solved the problem for me. Thanks. BTW, I'd come and listen to you speak about anything.

Well, this is just too freakin' cool! My degree-in-Medieval-History husband is going to get one of these made for him for this winter. Considering he's getting a wee bit more than a little thin on top, he'll love it.

AM I'm the only one who would love to have heard you talking about the Hanse in the Baltic. (since I'm living close to a couple of hanseatic cities in the western part of the baltic that seems to be very interesting....)

Having visited Lubeck (imagine the umlaut, please) last fall, including the most wonderful town museum there, I would also be interested in the Hanseatic League lecture. Unfortunately, I live nowhere near Boston.

Love the night cap. We often turn down our heat in the winter (can get to -42 degrees C outside) at night to save energy and money. Often wearing a hat is the only solution to sleeping through the night. I'll be casting this on right away.

Reading through the other comments has made me realize that I have no particular feelings, one way or the other, toward semicolons. I do, however, quite like the word fiduciary.

Also, I hope you have a guide (person, not a book) for the Stata Center. Although it's got what are pretty much the nicest lecture halls on MIT's campus, I never really did figure out how to navigate that remarkably Suessian building.

the history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic - I think you must read too much!Matt Lauer could really use one of those night caps. His hair is getting pretty sparse. Maybe you should send him one.

Years ago, when I was first divorced & raising 2 kids on my own, I lived in an apartment (2900 block of Sheffield - fancy condo now I'm sure). I would have loved a nightcap then, In fact I may make it now. I love a cold bedroom with lots of warm covers but what to do about one's head is always a problem especially for those of us with short (or no) hair.

I pre-ordered the 'little book' months ago. I have a Fibertarian tote bag I use for my art class. And honestly, Franklin, I would listen to you speak about the history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League. If anyone could make that entertaining it's you.

At a fairly young age my grandfather became almost completely bald. Every year for Christmas for the 15 years of his life, my mother would sew him a sleep hat out of flannel - usally red. It was always a cone shaped hat, very similar in shape to the one in your picture. He said it was something he looked forward to receiving every year and it was always his favorite Christmas gift. How smaltzy was this!!! Best - Hester from Atlanta

You make my day when I switch on the computer and find a new post, even if on the history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic... love the nightcap but it's still sooooo hot this part of the world.

I'm so jealous of those Bostonians! I was even considering sending some of my non-knitting Wellesley friends...but figured they'd look at me weird. I'm totally thinking about that nightcap but instead of chilly winder nights, it would be more for the ridiculous AC in the summer - I am in Florida after all...

2200 members, more (so far!) than even the Ravelry Historic Knitting group.

And just think if the Hanseatic league had supported the Dutch colony in what became Manhattan, rather than jerking it around on a short chain. We might be breien instead of knitting. (See Russell Shorto's Island at the Center of the World.)

Ooops. Er. I guess they didn't say I could talk about whatever I want.

Fabulous article Frankin, and I love, love, love the Nightcap. I want to make it for my boss as a gag gift for Christmas this year. Where in the world did you get the Steinbach Wolle Maxi though? I've been searching the web and coming up short. I suppose any fingering weight good quality cotton would work (like Dale Stork maybe). What do you think?

Your lecture on history and fiduciary policies of the Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic was truly enlightening. I can't wait to have you back someday to talk about ancient ruins and architecture of the mayan people.

Given the rise in world fuel and food prices (You Americans are moaning about your 'cheap' [to us Brits] petrol prices? sheesh!)Those Victorian nightaps may well make a big comeback. As we - and especially elderly people lose a huge amount of body heat through our heads, they seem a marvelous knitty way to conserve heat and help save the planet at the same time! Turn the thermostat down to conserve oil, gas and electricity and knit yourself and your friends a bodyheat conserving nightcap. Can something be cool and hot at the same time? Yes, a nightcap can if you want it to be. Think stripes or lace or entrelac - the possibilities are endless.Thanks for your fascinating and humorous article in Knitty and look forward to the next one.

Saw you at MIT, enjoyed it very much. Especially great you brought that scarf. But dude, if you have any references to the Hanseatic League in the eastern Baltic would you send them to egburns@verizon.net. I am wondering if trade patterns of the Hanseatic league might have been part of the cross fertilization of knitting patterns. Sadly, I'm entirely serious about that.

Just what you need, one more friggin comment (delete it, no one will care!) So are you suggesting that you can manage to tie in merchant trade associations with knitting? hot topic. With international yarns available left and right, but all the "green" topics flying around maybe there's room for a new trade group to manage it all? You can be head-honcho.BTW, I use nightcaps because my darling wife keeps the house insanely cold to lower the heating bills. Good thing I knit! Woolie slippers, hats and sweaters are donned INSIDE our house!

Hate to bother you - and I hope I'm not going to be proved a fool... however... I'm in the midst of knitting the NIGHTCAP, and I'm in a pickle. The pattern has rounds 13-22 for the band, then says to repeat twice more, which brings me only to round 42 when I'm done with the 2nd repeat (after the initial set). The Peak starts with Round 63. Did I miss something? I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing from round 43-62. I feel like an idiot - I could GUESS by looking at the picture, but this is a gift for my partner's father, and I want to get it right. I'm sure hoping you could help me!!!Thank you. -Laura

Copyright and Posting Notice

All original content of this blog, both words and images, is held in copyright by F. Habit. Use of any kind, in any medium, for any reason without express, prior written consent is prohibited.

Permission is not granted for the posting of any content from this site to Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, or any other Web site.

Please do not provide links to any product, service, organization or cause when leaving comments unless directly related to the topic of the post. Unsolicited advertising will be deleted and repeat offenders will be blocked.

When in doubt, please ask. I'm not mean, I'm just committed to preserving the quality of experience for my readers.